This bothers me as well.. what happens if a man commits an offence against a woman but his testimony is worth twice hers?
Also the time dependent thing would be ok if scholars didn’t say that Islamic rulings should never change according to the times we live in.. Again that doesn’t make sense to me when I read how the niqaab should be worn in “times of fitna” (which is obviously very subjective).. Other issues which niggle at me are the slave rulings and how inheritance should be divided up..
I do think it might be the interpretation which is the problem in some cases..
The rapist marrying the victim happens in some Islamic cultures as well btw, it’s not just in the Old Testament.. I say “culture” because I’m not sure if it’s culture or part of Islam.. In some Muslim countries if the victim marries her rapist he can avoid prison and the thinking behind it is that the victim might not otherwise be able to marry at all.. In theory it has to be completely the victim’s choice but how many would actually want to do that rather than being pressured into it?
Yes, questioned it and realized religion wasn’t for me. Here are five simple things I have come to understand:
Spirituality and religion are not the same.
One cannot truly believe in an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent power unless one feels it. Once you feel it, there is no going back. It is deeply personal.
Everything is indeed connected. There is oneness.
Everyone’s religion is different because everyone experiences spirituality differently.
We do not need to understand what God is. We need to understand humanity and everything will fall in place.
I feel we are what our parents are, somehow we are more advanced or theological extension of their thought
My oldman always taught me to go by reason, though he often says that there are no atheist at 40,000 feets but his way was very much guided by the reason, he often said me, if you agree to my point without reason, that is slavery and my child I conceived you in liberty.
Thus, I never had strong faith except in my own reason and moral values of religion and human conscience are more or less, so in all I never had much use of god beyond certain dissertation.
Not really. One can be religious and have no clue of what spirituality is. For example, you can assume most people on GS are Muslims but you cannot assume their level of spirituality. Since every muslim interprets/understands Islam in his or her own way, they really actually end up following their own version of it because intellectually, emotionally, spiritually we are not equal to one another. In other words, we all operate at different levels of consciousness and our experiences are different so how can ONE religion be all end all?
I’m spiritual but not religious. I can believe there is a god, but I can’t believe in man made religious sanctions. Sexual slavery, polygamy, misogyny, beheadings, stonings etc. those are all human traits from the 7th century. There is no reason why I, a man of the 21st century should believe in, and live by those principles.
I can make an exception for polygamy, but only if it involves 100% consenting adults. Still, its not for me.
Religious zelaotry, bigotry and religiously sanctioned violence have not brought any good to the world. Societies who understood this, and shunned those values, have progressed. Societies who keep on to such principles, are regressing. This isn’t about muslims or non-muslims, its about acknowledging what other human beings are doing right, and implementing those principles in ones own society, to the benefit of ones own society.
There are certain things religion do not need to address, anything that is out of the sphere of spirituality, and requires worldly knowledge, should be solved by rationality, logic and utmost adherence to humanity. I also believe in complete freedom of religion.
Since that is my position, is it any room for me in Islam? Most muslims I talk to says there is not. So who is rejecting who? I’m at peace with myself, so I don’t require an answer to that question anymore.
bhi jee… messengers are not coming up with their own wisdom.
Jesus(as) did not get to run a kingdom, if he did you would seen some amazing statesman ship.
In islam, it said dress you slave as you dress… feed them what you eat… marry them(men and women) so they make a way to functional society as free people with support system.
If the women we let out so make people in 21st happy… they would be young women on street with nothing to eat!!! you know what it leads too.
If men were let go just like that… they would have hard strong young men on the street with out food.. that too would lead to chaos…
Remember there were not big state building and food supply chains…
Please suggest a better solution, I am all ears.
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
jesus(as)
book of Matthew 10:34
I appreciate more if you quote jesus(as) for book of Mark, since its closer to real Jesus and the truth.
Thank you.
hmmm
are these argument for or against islam(religion ) ?
you did not step out of islam in all your 5 points.. Wonder why you consider your self outsider..
I don’t believe in following someone else’s experience of spirituality, which is what religions are. The heavy emphasis on prophets and messengers in religions is what makes religions too human and not spiritual at all. When you start focusing on things like how not to eat, pray, or even dress is when religion gets in the way of being spiritual. When you feel the divine, you need not to worry about any of It. Maybe I am just a crazy mystic. When I say God, people immediately start thinking about Islamic/Religious God. I do not mean God when I say God. The God I am talking about is everything- not necessarily a deity.
“Ghulam Ahmed Pervez preached that Islam was not a typical religion of rituals and superstitious beliefs but was a challenge to the very institution of organized religion. He was also against the dogmatic view of God and believed that mother nature is a manifestation of God.”
thanks to mughal1 for introducing me to Mr PArvez… if was islam given in hands of Mr Pervez, he would do exactly what early christian scribes did to gospels…
no thank you.
We take truth rather then some ones wishes as truth…
All religions try to define God. How? because they keep telling you what God wants you to do. That is one of the issues with religion. I don’t intend to define God in anyway, which is why I said it is everything. One could argue if something is everything then it is nothing. I just don’t think we are capable of knowing what God wants from us or what it is! Religions make it seem like God plays favorites as if God is a classroom teacher. It doesn’t make sense to me. It is completely beyond us to know and it doesn’t matter either. We don’t need to know.
Islam is different to other religions in the sense that you are supposed to connect with God while living in this world. As for the way to eat, pray etc Muslims follow what the prophet pbuh commanded because he was the best teacher to teach us how to connect with God even whilst doing mundane things like getting dressed. When you follow the orders of the prophet pbuh you then are obeying your Creator. The better you follow the closer you connect to God.
…and this is exactly what I am talking about. All religions are different and unique. They all teach you how to live. Prophets of every religion were the best teachers. Not trying to argue but this very post proves my point.
The kind of God you describe is impersonal. If we are not capable of knowing what God wants from us or what it is then this God just created us then let us go? Didn’t communicate with His creation again? Doesn’t guide us nor helps us in any way? I’m genuinely curious. Not bashing you.
I’m at peace with myself, so I don’t require an answer to that question anymore.
